Milking apparatus.



E E. GOOD.

M lLKlNG APPARATUS. APPLICATION HLED AUGZI, 1915.

Patented May 29, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. E. GOOD.

MILKING APPARATUS.

I APPLICATION FILED AUG-21,1915- -1,2Q $1% Patented May 29, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

46%MQ/QM' E. E. GOOD.

MILKING APPARRATUS.

APPLICATION HLED AUG-27,1915- T N fatented May 29, 1911.

E. E. GOOD.

MlLKiNG APPARATUS APPLXCATION FILED AUG.2I, 1915.

. 1 ,22,3 1 '%a Patented May 29, 1917- 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- scan to. econ, or 1VIIN'NE'AIOLIS, ni'arnnsora.

MILKING APPQRATUS.

weenie.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 29*, 191*? Application filed August 27, 1915. Serial No. 47,569.

To all whom may concern:

Be it known that l, Ezra E. Goon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minna apolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Milking Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same,

My present invention has for its object to provide an improved milking apparatus and relates particularly to that type of milking apparatus wherein a constant, or substantially constant, partial vacuum is maintained in a milk can or receptacle, and the pressure pulsations in the milk tube are produced without materially affecting the milk can pressure.

To the above ends, generally stated, the invention consists of thenovel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter de scribed and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, like characters in dicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the improved milking apparatus in use;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the mechanism whichis applied on the milk can;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. l is a plan view with some parts broken way showing substantially the same mechanism as shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line .13 m of Fig. l;

Fi z 6 is a vertical section taken on the t, line m a? of Fig. 4i;

b same line as Figvthbut illustrating diilerent positions of certain of the parts;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the same line as Fig. 5, but illustrating different positions of the parts; r

Fig. 9 1s a horizontal section taken ap proximately on the line 00 cc of Fig. 3;

7 is a vertical section taken on the.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section taken on the same line as Fig. 6; v

Fig. 1.1 is av detail in plan. showing a check valve of the mechanism best illustrated in 9 and 10;

Fig 12 is a perspective view showing one of the groups of teat cups; and

Fig. 13 shows one of the teat cups partly in section and partly in elevation.

The milk can, or receptacle may be of any suitable construction, and, in the drawings, is indicated by the numeral 1. Detaehably seated on, th'e rim thereof z with. an air tight joint, preferably through the intervention of a suitable gasket, is a head 2 in the form of a casting having integral. therewith, a difierential cylinder The lower extremity of the smaller cylinder 3 is open to the milk can while the upper end of the large cylinder 4: is closed by a suitable de tachable head 5 shown as provided with a detachable airtight central plug 6.

The head 2 has a nipple 7 therethrough into the can, and to which one end of an air suction tube 8 is attached. This air suction tube 8 will be connected to a vacuum pump ormeans for producing" partial vacuum or suction, preferably through a vacuum tank, not shown. The milking apparatus illustrated is designed for the milking of two cows at the same time, and hence, the head 1 is provided with two milk delivery nipples 9 that terminate in ports 10 located in the intermediate portion of the. wall of the smaller cylinder 3. Valves-11, which must be opened when the apparatus is in operation, are applied in the said nip pics 9 Between the nipples 9, the head 1 is further provided with a sleeve-like valve casing 12 having at its outer extremity a valve seat 13. The lower portion of this that opens valve sleeve 12 is connected by a small air the milk supply in the lower" extremltyof the may be varied;

.yalve 24:, eeoll .port 13 adapted. to eltee neiely open mil (loot lel against vthe from the o .pplee ores ll reiofiel piston 219 2 1, The piston 21 Works the smaller cylinone the larger ole l. KVQKliS in. the. gel. cylllldm' l, and, .oly, is of tlle'ty'gw wherein eelfeo have lleoqecl 4 s foe e ieoerioe of tee mid oyllim emel er flex 3 with e YQEY close fit,

U flexible disks gagemeet with the {lee The lower extremity of the eyllmler i, 2e eeoll junction of the, upper extremity of the cylinder 3, teemi'naeesin em eooula i1 channel 2-2 is connected, to ol 3 eemosphese 2m poi-mite 2;?

This all (lust mospherie pressurelo always be memtemed. sold. cylmclez' y I 1 l W v'n 5 f: q l 1 an one: we woe/mien, eool an 01.1 moo u e peseege for 01} which may Moment-late 1n, one channel '2.

leiounted to reciprocate millelly in e'boz'e' excemleol "'cluough file well of the oyllntlez." e and through a boss on the exterior oi the some is a so-oellel reverse valve 24, prefer ably of tubular form, and having e leteml port anal threecle l choke plo 245 by means of: which 1, the area of selclv port Undelmovements of said "lobe upper eXtreo'rll-les' of ell emote 26 end 2?, the former oi Wlnoh, leads m the atmosphere, anal the letter WlllGll leecls to the upper portion of the mill; can.

The extrem" of lllld bore or wool passage of the valve is open.

. The mnneyel 28 :7. small bearing; bracket which rlglclly' seemed to o e in- .t-eriorof the oylimlel? le zo e the luglleee position of line plseoo 21, andv to {his bmolieb, a rocker 29 is intermedietely pivoted 'lhe up, or eml of this rocker is connected by a short link 30 to the inner end of the valve 24:. .1 said rocker is thus z-ivotell to the bracket 28 by a pivot pin 31, which of? fouls e plszotel support also 0 a so-called ecoelel'etoxz= level" 32, which lever, shown, is mecle in two laterally spaced parts eon n'eotecl 2%; their free ends by spec-log pin 33,

to the projecting end of which, the upper ones of celled accelerator sprmgs are attaolled. The lower or other ends of the sefil accelerator springs 34: are anchored to the breeke'e (see parlleulm'ly Figs. l and 8)., The roe-later 29 has laterally projecting pins or etmle 35, Wllll which the acceleratorlever 32 is engegee ble; me these pins ere so spaced; fillet t-lze accelerator level is capable of All the (llfieientlel cylinder.

oonssllemble movement between tlaengfill as will hereinafter more clearly appear.

lterm. portions of the laterally JZLCGQ members of the accelerator level 32 are formed with segmental slots in .VlllCll m 'illo end of a orzimsw'erselyprojecting pin. 58 on the upper end of :1 link 39, the

E. which is plvolelly connect-ed "to the dll alle piston 2G---E2L li ozf 1n the valve sleeve or casing 1'2 is a eo-eol eel relief valve 310, the need of which nomielly engages the valve anal closes the oassege ll'lrough the alve casing. The stem ll of this valve 40 is filill lhk'lil downward and projects into a, cavity 42 formed in the bottom of the head 2. ll' luhin the valve casing 12, the saldw'elve stem ll is provided with :1 piston-like collar 43 that always stands oelow the adjacent extremity of the port 1.4;, but prevents the escape of oil" downward emu-11d the valve stem and into the milk. can, TlklSCllGCli velveie normally closed by gravity, and also by suoolon, o1. partial vacuum within the can. The lowes end of the valve stem ll is adepteal to be engaged by a smell releasing lever that normally projeo s mco the path of movement of ihesmell piston 20, but smmls m e pOSltlOXl ellglltly below the ports 10 of l w: v v1 me null: clellvely nlpplee lime blue 1111- portent fact may be not-ed, to-wlt, that the serial l'xlp'ples 9 are obliquely disposed on such lines that the mllkjdisclmrgecl into the can under high velocity through e smell port 10,

of the small the the the will-110i; stllke against the wells cylinder 3, out will projected below we. either against one side or to bottom of the milk can. This prevente milk from ,i'ui rming on the bottom re lihe View 2 to the vicinity of the lower extremity i the sec-mono nipple 'l', and hence, prevents z 1' emotion lube. In previously eoneetuotecl j Bus, much trouble has been causal by oemg drawn from the can through the suetlon tube eml lnto the vacuum tank of"? of fihe vacuum system. This feature over come by the ermngement of the, mllk do livery mpples, as above clesonbexl.

nipple 9, one eml To each mill; delivery e milk -from being; drawn out through the sort :25 and axial assa 'e of that they will notaccidentally be displaced. ln applyingthe teat cups to the cows teats, the teats are forced downward through the perforated diaphragnis 50, and the latter will he bent down aroundthe teats, and will thereby :torm soft and pliable, hut air tight joints with the nipples.

As shown,'the heador can cover 2 is providedwith a rigidly secured rectangular bail 51. 4, indicates a movable; cap adapted to be. applied to protect the reverse valve 24.

Operation The. operation of the improved milking apparatus is substantially as follows:

As illustrated, but two cows can be milked at one time and the milk from both cows will be delivered into the same can, but as is obvious, a can may have more than two milk supply tubes, groups of teat'cups and c0- operating dcvices, so as to thereby provide for the milking-of more than two cows at one time.

Fig. l'shows the position of the milking device with one group of teat cups applied to a cow. When the apparatus is to be used to milk but one cow, the nipple 9 to the other milk tubeshould have its valve 11 closed. Figs, 5 and '6 illustrate what may be asslnned to be the starting position of the differential piston and cooperating devices. At this time, the air, under atmospheric pressure, is admitted to the upper portion of the cylinder l, through the air duct 26, I the reverse valve'fZd, and the air duct 27 is closed by said valve it, so that the suction or partial vacuum from within the milk can does not act upon the large portion of the di'Eerential piston, but does act directly upon the small section 20 of the said differential piston. In the said position of the parts in liigpli, atmospheric pressure'tends to force the reverse valve 24 inward, but the said valve locked againstsuch movement by the rocker 2'9 and link 30 which. then act as a look toggle and are set with the intermediate joint of the toggle slightly below a dead center. Hence, when the diiierential piston and the accelerator lever 32 vbegin their downward movement, the said reverse valve 2% will not immediately follow the same. It

will. of course, be understood that while the apparatus is iuoperation, a partial vacuum is maintained in the milk can. At this time, the discliarge ports 10 of the milk delivery nipples 9 are open, so that the-partial vacuum or suction in the milk can produces a corresponding suction. or partial vacuum in the milk tubes and teat cups 47, thereby drawing the milk into the milk can.' The partial vacuum in tl e milk can, acting on the small section or piston 20 of the difi'erential piston, draws the 'said differential piston downward.

The initial downward movement of the said differential piston carries the so-called accelerator lever 32 with it until the ac celerator springs 34 are moved past their neutral or dead central position, in respect to the pivot 31, whereupon the said springs throwthe said accelerator lever ahead and downward with a rapid movement, causingv the same to strike-the lower stop pin 35 and thereby,' jwith a quick hammer-like blow, oscillate the rocker 2 9, and through the link 30, cause the reverse valve 24 to move into a position to close the atmospheric duct 26 and bring the port 25 into registration with the duct Zn-"thereby connecting the milk can to the upper end of the cylinder 4: and subjecting the-larger portion 21 ofthe diilerential piston to the partial vacuum or suction from the milk can. The length of the slots 36 in the acceleratorlever 32 should be such as to permit the above rapid movement of theac'celerator lever and valveQl actuated thereby, vwithout waiting for the continued downward movement of the differential piston. Under the final portion of the downward movement of the differential piston,

the piston or section 20 first closes the discharge ports 10 of the milk intake nipples 9, thereby cutting off communication between the milk can and the milk delivery tubes 45, and immediately thereafter, the said piston 2(ls't-1'ikes the lever 44: and causes the same to .open the relief valve 40. Obviously,

when the relief valve 40 is open, air underthe differential piston are subject to the milk will, of course, determine the direction of the movement of the said differential piston. Under initial upward movement of the differential piston, the relief valve 40 will first be closed and thenv the ports 10 will be opened, and furthermore, "under the said movement of said piston, the pin 38, acting on the upper extremity of the slot 36 of the accelerator lever 32 will moye the same to a point where the accelerator springs 34; will pass their neutral or dead center position, in respect to'the pivot 31, whereupon the said springs will quickly throw they said accelercan pressure or vacuum and the larger area 7 ins . is subject to partial vacuum or suction. The

speed at which the reciprocations oi": the ditt'erential piston take place, and, consequently, the rapidity of the pressure polsations produced in the teat cups, may be varied by adjustments oi the threaded plug or choke device 24: which) regulates the opening of the port- 25 of the reverse valve 24;.

From the above description, it is furtheevident that the accelerator lever and springs operate as a full stroke device to insure full and complete movements oi the reverse valve 24:.

The above operations, 'as'is evident, produce the varying pressure pulsations in the milk pipes and teat cups of the inilkin device while a constant or approximately con stant partial vacuum. is maintained in the milk can. This reduces to a minimum, the amount of air used in the milking action makes the pulsation producing mechanism ver 1 sensitive in action. By regulation of the speed of the differential piston, a graduated milking action is made possible, and when the ap iiaratus is properly adjusted, the milking operation may be performed as rapidly as possible without hurting the cows teats, either temporarily or permanently,

, The efiiciency of this apparatus has been demonstrated in practice.

What I. claim is:

1. In a milking apparatus, the combination with a closed milk receptacle, 0t differential cylinder and a diii'erentisl piston Working therein, said cylinder liavingvits small end in constant communication with said receptacle, a reverse valve and oooperzro ing ports for alternately connecting the larger end oi said cylinder to said milk r ceptacle and to the atmosphere, piston actuated connections for moving said reverse valve, a milk delivery conduit connected to said milk receptacle, and a relief valve distinct tron said piston for said null; delivery conduit, controlled by movements of said difierential piston.

2. in a milking apparatus, the combination with a. closed inilk receptacle, of a differential cylinder end a differential p. in therein, said cylinder having its small end in constant communication with said milk receptacle, c reverse valve and cooperating ports {or alternately connecting the larger end of said cylinder to said milk receptacle and to (he atniiosphcre, piston controlled connections f er moving said reverse valve from one posit to another, a mill; delivery conduit leading to said milk receptacle and erronged to he opened and closed by the small portion oi? diii'erential piston, and it nor inally clos d relief valve distinct from said piston, loo .d in said milk conduit and arranged to he opened oy said diherential piston after the. same has first closed the delivery end of said niilk delivery conduit, Wherehy pressure pulsations produced in sa d inilk delivery vconduit ithout afiecting the partial. vacuum maintained in said milk receptacle,

in o; milking apparatus, the combination with a closed milk receptacle in which an approxn'nately constnnt partial vacuum inay be incl g allied, of a cylinder and cooperating piston therein, said cylinder liaving one end in communication with said milk rer'zeptscle, a reverse valve and cooperating ports for alternately connecting the other end of said. cylinder to said milk roceptz-icle (i to the atmosphere, it toggle-like connection to said reverse valve serving to temporarily lock the same in one position, and a spring-actuated accelerator actuated by said piston and operating said toggle but having a, limited movement in respect thereto. 1

i. in a milkingapparatus, the combination with a closed milk receptacle, of a cyliner cooperating piston tl'ierein, said cylinder a ing one end in coi'i'ininnication with said 11 receptacle, a reverse valve and co operating ports for tcrnately connecting the other end of said cylinder to said milk receptacle, and tothe atn'iosphere, a valve connection serving to temporarily lock said reve valve in one position, and a device one: by said piston and operating on ove said. valve into .,aclc again to lock said valve connection to its other position. one

oosition.

V .fi' l-- g o. in a HULK. rig apparatus, tire eomoma tion with a closed milk receptacle, oi? a eylinder and cooperating piston therein, said cyl indcr having one in communication with said milk receptacle, a valve and cooperating ports for alternately connecting the other end of said cylind r to said milk receptacle, and to the stint ere, n valve connection serving to teni oere y loci; said reverse. valve. in one pe a device o 'iersted by said piston *9 rating on said valve connection to move saio. valve into other ion. d heck again to lock position, a delivery said milk receptacle and opened and closed by said pi.

osed relief valve i while said milk conduit is closed by the said piston,

6. In a milking apparatus, the combination with a closed milk receptacle in which an approximately constant partial vacuum may be maintained, of a diiierential cylinder and accelerator lever serving to move the same fronrone side to the other of a neutral position.

7. In a milking apparatus, the combination with a closed milk receptacle in which an approximately constant partial vacuum may be maintained, of a dilierential cylinder and a differential piston working therein,-

said cylinder having its small end in constant communication with said milk receptacle, a reciprocating reverse valve and 00- operating ports for alternately connecting the V large end of said cylinder to said milk receptacle and to the atmosphere, and piston actuated connections for moving said valve from one position to another, including a spring-pressed accelerator movable trom one side to the other from a neutral position, ar ranged to be moved by said piston but capable of movement independent thereof, and operative wit-ha hammer-like action on a co operating valve actuating connection.

8. In a milking apparatus, the combination with a closed milk receptacle in. which an approximately constant partial vacuum may be maintained, of a differential cylinder and a differential piston working therein, said cylinder having its small end in constant communication with said milk receptacle, a reciprocating reverse valve and co operating ports for alternately connecting the large end of said cylinder to said milk receptacle and to the atmosphere, and piston actuated connections for moving said valve from one position to another, including .a spring-pressed accelerator movable from one side to the other from a neutral position, arranged to be moved by said piston but capable of movement independent thereof,

and operative with a hammer-like action on a cooperating 'valve'actuating connection, a milk delivery conduit having a discharge port located in the wall of the small portion said piston.

of said differential cylinder and arrangeo to be opened and closed by the small por- 5 tion of said differential piston, and a normally closed relief valve insaid milk conduit arranged to be opened by said piston while said milk delivery conduit is closed by 9. In a milking apparatus, the combination with a closed milk receptacle, of a differential cylinder and a dilierential piston working therein, vsaid cylinder having its small end in constant communication with said receptacle, a reciprocating reverse valve with a port therein and cooperating ports for alternately connecting the larger end of said cylinder to said milk receptacle and to the atmosphere, said reverse valve having means 61: for adjusting its port opening, and piston I actuated connections for moving said reverse valve.

10. In a milking apparatus, the combination with a closed milkreceptacle, of a cylinder and cooperating piston therein, said cylinder having one end in communication with said milk receptacle, a reverse valve and cooperating ports for alternately connecting the other end of said cylinder to 9 said milk receptacle, and to the atmosphere,

a valve connection serving to temporarily lock said reverse valve in one position, and

a device operated by said piston and operating on said valve connection to move said valve into its other position and back again to lock position, and means for varying the conducting capacity of certain of the saidports, to thereby vary the rapidity of movement of said piston and reverse valve.

11. In a milking apparatus, the combination with a closed milk receptacle, of a differential cylinder and a differential piston working therein, said cylinder having a 1 small. end 'in constant communication with said milk receptacle, a reciprocating reverse valve and cooperating ports for alternately connecting the larger end of said cylinder to said milk receptacle and to the atmosphere, a toggle-acting connection serving in one position to temporarily lock said reverse valve in a position to open the larger end of said cylinder to the atmosphere, an accelerator lever having a limited movement in respect to one of said toggle members, but operative thereon under extreme movements,

to move said valve from one position to another, an accelerator spring operative on said accelerator lever and movable from one side to another of a neutral position, and a connection between said accelerator lever and piston causing said piston to move said lever from one side to another of its neutral position but permitting the said lever to partake of independent movements under the action ofsaid accelerator spring.

a eeeeie 12. In a milking appareus, the combine tion with a close& milk receptacle, of a differential cylinder ancldifierentiel piston a1- ranged in an upright position with the large end of said, cylinder upwercl', the large portion of said cylinder terminating in an ennular groove surrounding the upper extremity of the small portion of said cylinder, the said annular groove having a. combilled. oil and air passage extending to the atmosphere, a reverse valve and cooperating ports for alternately connecting lJhG- large end of said cylinder to said milk receptacle and to the atmosphere, and piston actuated connections for moving said reverse Valve .15 from one position to another.

In testimony whereof I afilx my signature in presence of two Wl'lJHGSSGS,

EZRA E. G003).

Witnesses H. D. KILeonE, F. D. li lERGHANT. 

